TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University head soccer coach Kevin Boyd today announced that Brianna Gonzalez has transferred to ASU to study and play soccer.

A 5-9 midfielder/defender, Gonzalez will be transferring to ASU from UC Riverside where she was one of four players to start at least 17 matches for the Highlanders as a freshman in 2011. Last season she was named a member of College Sports Madness's preseason All-Big West second team as she went on to start all 13 games she played in.

"Brianna is coming from UCR where she has been a starter the last two years primarily at center back, but we plan on moving her into our midfield as a defensive center mid," Boyd said. "She has good size and strength and is very good in the air. In addition to being a good one-on-one defender, she is very technical on the ball and has the ability to serve the ball with both feet. Because of her experience and abilities I think she is someone who can come in and immediately challenge for a spot in our starting lineup."

Originally from Victorville, Calif., Gonzalez graduated from Sultana High School where she led her team to a pair of league championships in 2009 and 2010. Named all-league three times, Gonzalez was recognized as the CIF-SS Division 4 Offensive Player of the Year and All-Sun Most Valuable Player following a junior season in which she scored 16 goals and added 12 assists. She scored two goals in the 2010 CIF-SS Division 4 girls' soccer championship as Sultana captured its second straight title with a 3-0 win.

Gonzalez will be joining a Sun Devil program which has qualified for NCAA Tournament play three times in the last four seasons. In 2013, ASU will return eight players who started 14 or more games last season. Included among the returners are three of the team's top four scorers from last season: forwards Cali Farquharson, Devin Marshall and Holland Crook, and defender Jasmine Roth, who has started 57 games over the last three seasons.

ASU recently completed the competitive portion of its spring schedule with a perfect 9-0 record. The Sun Devils open the 2013 regular season on Fri., Aug. 23 when they host Cal State Northridge at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.